“these are the results of a thousand electrics volts”
On February 23rd 1999, Eminem released The Slim Shady LP. This album was his official introduction to the world and its impact on the rap game was huge. With Dr. Dre overseeing the project as an Executive Producer, Eminem introduced us to his alter ego, Slim Shady.
Eminem came out of the gate guns blazing and told a story of an underdog different from what rap listeners were used to. He was the comic nerd from a broken home, who got bullied and found music as his outlet to tell the world his side of the story. The Slim Shady LP shocked listeners, critics and politicians. It garnered worldwide attention because of its subject matter and lyrical prowess. The follow up to his original Slim Shady EP (1997-98), the 1999 release was full of sharp lyrics, dark storytelling, outright disses, and humour.
My Name Is was the perfect mainstream introduction for Eminem. He was able to show off his lyrical ability and wittiness. But if you’ve listened to the whole album you know that there are so many other tracks on the LP that are much better. One of the best songs from The Slim Shady LP is “Rock Bottom“. A somber beat with lyrics that paint an emotional story, this track exposes you to the life this Detroit rapper lived.
But the storytelling doesn’t stop there. “Brain Damage”, “Guilty Conscience” with Dr. Dre, and “Cum On Everybody” are all great songs that tell a fluent story. On the track “Brain Damage” Em raps, “My first day in junior high this kid said It’s you and I/ three o’clock sharp this afternoon you die/ I looked at my watch it was 1:20/ I already gave you my lunch money/ What more do you want from me”. Listen below to get the full picture.
Since the release of The Slim Shady LP, Eminem has been through extreme highs and more recently extreme lows. He followed his debut album with the Marshall Mathers LP and The Eminem Show, which are certified rap classics and solidified him as a hip hop heavyweight. His recent battle with drugs took him off the scene for about 5 years but on his path to redemption he returned with 4 albums, Relapse (2009), Recovery (2010), Hell: The Sequel (Eminem and Royce Da 5’9) (2011) and MMLP2 (2013). As a fan, I think Eminem is one of the greatest of all time. Yea, I said it. You need to listen to the lyrics, wordplay, flow and delivery if you think otherwise. Listen to The Slim Shady LP and celebrate 15 years of Eminem’s debut.
Bonus: One of the illest Em tracks featuring Masta Ace and J-Black, Hellbound
